Tunbridge Wells Borough Council invites landowners and developers to submit sites suitable for homes, jobs or community uses as part of its ongoing Local Plan Review.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has launched a fresh Call for Sites exercise to identify land available for development across the town centre. The council wants landowners, developers and agents to submit suitable sites that could support new homes, employment or community facilities.

But this isn’t just any land grab. Sites must be located within the defined Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre boundary — or straddle it — to align with the ambitious Town Centre Plan Vision 2040.

The Call for Sites forms part of the council’s broader Local Plan Review process. This updates housing, employment and infrastructure allocations through to 2040, running alongside but separate from the Town Centre Plan Vision 2040.

What the Council Wants

The council says Vision 2040 aims to diversify the town centre and improve public spaces. According to the authority, the strategy will attract investment for living, working, shopping, learning, leisure and culture whilst preserving the area’s heritage character.

Anyone can submit sites — provided the landowner confirms they’re willing to make the land available. The council has set up an online form, though submissions can also be emailed to RTWTownCentrePlan@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or posted to Planning Services.

This follows earlier Calls for Sites in 2023 and 2024 specifically for the Town Centre Plan. The previous town centre call closed on 18 August 2023, with a further round running from 23 February to 15 April 2024.

The Bigger Picture

The overarching Tunbridge Wells Local Plan was adopted in December 2025. Prior consultations occurred in 2021 and 2017, drawing representations from local groups including the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum.

And that’s where opposition emerges. The Town Forum has raised objections in past consultations on site allocations, focusing on concerns about over-development, loss of open spaces and traffic impacts.

The council frames this as evidence-based planning. Sites submitted through the Call for Sites process get assessed for suitability, availability and deliverability — helping build a realistic picture of what land might actually come forward for development.

Town Centre Focus

This latest call specifically targets the town centre boundary, affecting residents and businesses in wards like Pantiles and St James’. But the broader Local Plan Review will influence growth patterns across Tunbridge Wells Borough — including areas like Southborough and Cranbrook.

The council’s rationale emphasises creating what it calls a “prosperous, sustainable town centre” through regeneration and diversification. Officials argue this will enhance public spaces whilst attracting the investment needed to keep the town centre viable.

Yet local campaigners worry about the cumulative impact. Previous consultation responses have highlighted concerns about development density and the loss of character that makes Royal Tunbridge Wells distinctive.

Planning Process Explained

The Call for Sites doesn’t guarantee development will happen. It’s essentially a land availability exercise — building a database of potentially developable sites that can then be properly assessed.

Sites that make it through initial screening face detailed evaluation against planning policy, environmental constraints and infrastructure capacity. Only those deemed suitable, available and deliverable are likely to progress to allocation in the final Local Plan.

The process runs parallel to the Town Centre Plan Vision 2040, which focuses specifically on prosperity and sustainability within the historic town centre. Both strategies aim to coordinate development and investment through to 2040.

What Happens Next

The council hasn’t specified a closing date for submissions in its current announcement. Interested parties should check the council’s website or contact the Planning Policy team on 01892 554056 for deadline information.

Once submissions close, council officers will assess each site against technical criteria. This includes checking access, infrastructure capacity, environmental constraints and policy compliance.

Suitable sites then feed into the Local Plan Review evidence base. But residents will get further chances to comment when draft allocations go out for formal consultation.

Key Takeaways

  • Tunbridge Wells Borough Council seeks land submissions for homes, jobs and community uses within the town centre boundary
  • The Call for Sites supports both the Local Plan Review and Town Centre Plan Vision 2040 strategies running to 2040
  • Local groups have previously raised concerns about over-development and traffic impacts from site allocations

What This Means for Tunbridge Wells Residents

Residents in town centre wards like Pantiles and St James’ could see new development opportunities emerge from this exercise, potentially bringing more homes and jobs but also increased density. Anyone with concerns should monitor the council’s planning pages for consultation opportunities once submitted sites are assessed and draft allocations published. Contact the Planning Policy team on 01892 554056 or email RTWTownCentrePlan@tunbridgewells.gov.uk to stay informed about upcoming consultation stages where public input will be sought.